Kawhi Leonard texted Kyle Lowry on July 6 he was leaving the Toronto Raptors and signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, ending his magical one-year run with the Raptors.
Leonard, a California native, signed a three-year, $103.14 million contract with the Clippers. The three-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year led the Raptors to their first-ever championship in 2018-19. Everyone in Toronto knew Leonard could be a one-year rental, but it was worth it since the country got to celebrate an NBA championship.
Lowry, who is in Las Vegas for Team USA training camp, says he didn't recruit Leonard to come back to the Raptors and told the two-time Finals MVP he was happy for him.
“He texted me, let me know,” Lowry told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. “That was it. I said, ‘I’m happy for you.' I have never been a recruiter. It won’t ever happen. I’m always happy for guys, especially one that help me do something fantastic. He’s a friend of mine and a good guy. He made a decision to go home, I’m genuinely happy for him. He gets a chance to be around his family and friends, you have to respect the guy and be happy for him.”
Without Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors aren't title contenders anymore.
However, Toronto should be able to compete at a high-level in the Eastern Conference with Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet leading the way.
Lowry has one-year left on his contract. He'll make $33,296,296 next season.
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